The points of issue
First printing; issued simultaneously in cloth (red cloth boards) and in illustrated wraps; priced. Reed's first poetry collection.
Is this the true first?
True first is the 1972 University of Massachusetts Press edition, in both cloth and wrappers.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
None notable.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Conjure: Selected Poems, 1963-1970 a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First printing; issued simultaneously in cloth (red cloth boards) and in illustrated wraps; priced. Reed's first poetry collection.
How do I tell the first printing from a later one?
Check the copyright page for the publisher's first-printing convention and confirm the points above. True first is the 1972 University of Massachusetts Press edition, in both cloth and wrappers.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
None notable.
I have a first edition of Conjure: Selected Poems, 1963-1970 — what should I do?
If you're clearing books, New Mexico Literacy Project offers free pickup in Albuquerque, any condition, and makes sure collectible copies aren't lost. To sell, see the author's collecting guide. Either way, nothing valuable ends up in a landfill.